Core Viewpoint - The upcoming Shanghai Two Sessions will focus on enhancing inbound tourism, with proposals aimed at enriching visitor experiences and improving the quality of Huangpu River tours, positioning Shanghai as a leading destination for international travelers [1] Group 1: Inbound Tourism Growth - In 2025, Shanghai is expected to welcome 9.36 million inbound tourists, a year-on-year increase of 39.58%, surpassing the pre-pandemic figure of 8.97 million in 2019, marking a historical high [1] - Overnight visitors are projected to exceed 8.79 million, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 45.09%, indicating a stronger recovery in overnight stays compared to overall inbound tourism [1] - Despite the recovery in visitor numbers, the consumption potential remains underutilized, with less than 1% of inbound visitors utilizing tax refunds, despite an 80% increase in tax refund sales [1] Group 2: Shift in Visitor Preferences - There is a notable shift in inbound tourist demand from traditional sightseeing to experiential consumption, with interests in intangible cultural heritage, traditional Chinese medicine, and pop culture rising significantly [2] - Young travelers, particularly from South Korea, Japan, and the United States, are driving this trend, with over 70% of South Korean visitors belonging to the MZ generation and 35%-40% of Japanese visitors aged 20-40 [1][2] - Participation in experiential activities leads to a 30% higher average spending compared to traditional sightseeing tourists [2] Group 3: Huangpu River Tour Quality Improvement - The Huangpu River tour, a key attraction, received 4.16 million visitors in the first 11 months of the previous year, which is less than 50% of the total inbound tourist volume, indicating significant room for improvement [3] - Comparatively, other major rivers like the Chao Phraya in Bangkok and the Seine in Paris have much higher participation rates in boat tours, with 70%-80% of their inbound tourists opting for such experiences [3] - Current issues include a lack of product diversity, insufficient commentary, weak supporting services, and outdated digital offerings, which hinder the overall experience [3] Group 4: Recommendations for Improvement - Suggestions include optimizing regulations for experiential activities, enhancing the variety of offerings, and improving the marketing of the "Inbound Pass" app to increase awareness [2] - For Huangpu River tours, recommendations involve diversifying the product offerings, implementing multi-language ticketing systems, and enhancing transportation connections to improve visitor access [3] - The goal is to transform the Huangpu River experience into a platform that not only showcases the city but also tells Shanghai's unique story, shifting the focus from mere visitor numbers to meaningful engagement [4]